Electronic musical instrument with finger-depressable note heads on musical score

ABSTRACT

An electrically operated musical device with controls and tones resembling an electric organ, whose tunes are programmed by exchangeable scores that the performer plays by finger pressure seriatim upon their semiattached note heads. When in playing position, a score adapted for the device, that may be a page in a book of such scores, is-in effect-its keyboard, being in preferred size somewhat larger than conventional sheet music to make room for note heads big enough for the finger tips. Finger pressure upon each such note head transfers its effect to subjacent metallic connective pieces. Each such metallic piece, when it descends, connects electrically across an appropriate pair of subjacent conductor bars that interconnect with the pitch-determining electronic elements of an associated control console and oscillator-emplifier-loudspeaker system. The performer need not know the code of musical scoring to play a tune; the score in playing position determines for him what note sequence will issue forth as he touches the note heads one after the other.

United States Patent Paul Edwin Kiepe 113 Village Lane, Boise, Idaho83702 [21] Appl. No. 800,094

[22] Filed Feb. 18,1969

[45] Patented Feb. 9, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] ELECTRONIC MUSICALINSTRUMENT WITI-I FINGER-DEPRESSABLE NOTE HEADS ON MUSICAL SCORE 14Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl H 84/l.0l, 84/1.17, 84/l.28, 84/470 [51] Int. Cl. ..G09b15/04; GlOh 5/00, GlOh 1/00 [50] Field ol'Search 84/l.01,

3,186,291 6/1965 Pedicano 84/470 3,376,778 4/1968 Musser 84/4833,394,625 7/1968 Grow .t 84/471 3,460,425 8/1969 Kiepe 84/470 3,470,78510/1969 Shallenberger etal 84/470 Primary Examiner-W. E Ray ABSTRACT: Anelectrically operated musical device with controls and tones resemblingan electric organ, whose tunes are programmed by exchangeable scoresthat the performer plays by finger pressure seriatim upon theirsemiattached note heads. When in playing position, a score adapted forthe device, that may be a page in a book of such scores, is-ineffeet-its keyboard, being in preferred size somewhat larger thanconventional sheet music to make room for note heads big enough for thefinger tips. Finger pressure upon each such note head transfers itseffect to subjacent metallic connective pieces. Each such metallicpiece, when it descends, connects electrically across an appropriatepair of subjacent conductor bars that interconnect with thepitch-determining electronic elements of an associated control consoleand oscillator-amplifier-loudspeaker system. The performer need not knowthe code of musical scoring to play a tune; the score in playingposition determines for him what note sequence will issue forth as hetouches the note heads one after the other.

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ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WITH FINGER- DEPRESSABLE NOTE HEADS ONMUSICAL SCORE The principal purpose of musical devices in this class isto make easier of accomplishment musical rendition through programmingin the exchangeable score the note sequence of compositions performed.Antecedents of the present invention are principally :the U. S. Patentsof Leonardson, Pedicano, and Musser as well as the'pending applicationof the present inventor, Ser. No. 539,815, now U. S. Pat. No. 3,460,425,all of which have in common with the present device a musical score thatthe performer not only reads, but plays. By following this line, thepresent invention enjoys its benefit, namely the ease with which suchdevices may be caused to produce musical tunes and harmonies by personsof good motor skills but little musical gift.

These antecedent devices prove to have a shortcoming, however, in thatthe performer, to play them, must strike the note heads of the playablescore with a hand-held stylus. Performance requires considerable skill,taxing continuously the eye-hand coordinative abilities of theperformer. Indeed, the motor skills required exceed the abilities ofmany.

To eliminate from devices in this class the disadvantageous selector pinor stylus is the chief object of the present invention. Using thepresent device the performer need not keep his eyes fixed unswervinglyupon the next note head to be struck, nor make exacting eye-handcoordinative movements of a hand-held object. It is necessary only thathe contact, one after the other, the depressable not heads of the saidscore with his finger tips. These note heads are attached flexibly tothe score. The performers finger pressure transfers its thrust tounderlying metallic pieces that are, in effect, the moveable members ofelectrical pushbutton switches, each pushbutton being in control of amusicaltone appropriate in pitch to the note heads score position.

The novelty of playable note heads that require only fingertip pressureaims at being of especial value to persons, particularly children, whoare physically or mentally handicapped. Generally speaking, it is thisclass of persons that lacks the abilities required to manipulate theplaying stylus the present invention does away with.

In one of the variant modes of the present invention, where thenote-head surfaces and the score markings occur in a tactility differentfrom nearby surfaces, the playing of musical compositions can be learnedand enjoyed from tactile cues alone, and thus the device becomesavailable for use by the blind.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the describedscore in a form readily exchangeable at the console of the device, sothat a performer may play musical compositions or musical exerciseseasily one after the other.

A further object of the present invention is to offer, optionally, theplayable score in a booklike form of such scores so as to facilitate, ina classroom or concert situation, the performance of extensive musicalpieces requiring several score pages.

A further object of the present invention is to provide at theinstruments console three switching systems and a volume control forgiving into the performers hand unoccupied by the note heads the powerof producing a range of organ like effects. With one switching system hemay vary tonal timbre or bring on percussivesounds; with another he mayquick-tune the instrument's gamut to any musical key; with a third hemay raise or lower any score note his fingertip is touching a half tone,in order to supply sharps and flats. By means of a volume control he maygive to each score note its appropriate musical expression. v

A further object of the present invention is to provide, in the playablescore depressable note heads of a particularity of shapes to transmit toperformers in various classes immediate knowledge of musical timevalues. To the child perfonner the invention offers not'e heads in acode of graduated standard lengths corresponding to the length of timeeach note head is to be held down. To the blind performer the inventionoffers note heads in a code of shapes in a trice apparent to the touch,

from which correct musical time values may be learned then employed withfacility thereafter.

A final object of the present invention is to provide in the device,optionally, an overcontrol of the performer's audible output. When theteacher (or director, in a concert situation) plugs in this overcontrolfeature, called herein Director's Override, which is simply aninterconnected duplicate of console controls, he may supply musicalelements, such as halftone adjustment, where the performer fails to doso. Thus means exist in the device, optionally, for a learner at firstto manipulate only the depressable note head 3 while the teachercontrols the rest of the device. In a concert situation, through hisover-riding control of volume output, the director has means to switchdown-or even off-the audible product of any performer in error so as toavoid an unpleasing concert result.

The advantages provided by the present invention include the following:

l. The device may be played rewardingly by persons of little musicalgift.

2. It may be played by persons of considerable physical or mentalimpairment, even by children in these classes.

3. The device will accommodate a range of musical scores in any key, andmusical key may be preset for any score through rapid manual switching.

4. The performer may produce musical accidentals at will, and he has athand means of controlling musical expression.

5. From one of two simple note-head code systems the performer may gaincommand of musical tempo.

6. From note-head surfaces and score'markings of a tactility differentfrom adjacent surfaces the performer may learn to play the device thoughhe be blind.

7. From employment of the Directors Override option, many classes ofhandicapped personseven persons handicapped only by little musicaltalent-may learn to master the device one element at a time, whilst theteacher controls other elements.

8. Several of the devices in concert need not bear the ineptitude ofsingle performers, sincethe director may control a performers audibleoutput electrically without marring a concert situation socially.

9. From concerts performed on these easily played devices by thehandicapped on special occasions, such as holiday programs at schoolsand the like, the joy of musical celebration can come to players and tointerested listeners alike.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects and advantages ofthis invention are accomplished and the construction of the mechanicaland electrical contrivances for accomplishing them will be apparent fromthe accompanying specifications and claims considered together with thedrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the herein described electri callyoperated musical device in preferred embodiment, showing a fragment ofthe replacable score as torn away to reveal the conductor-bar arraybeneath, andillustrating the device, particularly its console, at aboutone-fourth practical size in its physical aspect.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the herein described electricallyoperated musical device in its electrical aspect.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the tom-away score fragment ofFIG. 1, shovw'ng the score and the depressable note heads in a sizepractical for use by children. The near edge of the score appears insectional view, and the conductor-bar array, in part, juts from beneaththe score fragment at the right-hand edge.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the replaceable score of FIG. I enlargedbeyond normal size to show its several parts, to depict certainalternative embodiments claimed herein, and to illustrate preferred,smallscale means for securing depressability in the semiattached noteheads.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative mode of the hereindescribed replaceable score in the form of a book of such scores thatplugs into the console of FIG. I as a substitute forthe singleexchangeable score shown in FIG. 1 in playing position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a typical score in the alternativebooklike mode of FIG. 5. I

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the exchangeable scorethat depicts alternative means for securthis invention providesmechanical and electrical means for unskilled persons to produce readilymany of the musical sounds of an electric organ, and to play easilymusical compositions thereon by fingertip pressure on the note heads ofan exchangeable musical score, that may be a page in a book of suchscores that fits the device in such manner as to be its keyboard.Principal parts of the device are (a) a console for accommodating boththe said exchangeable score and an aggregation of pitch, tone, andvolume controls; (b) atone-making oscillator-amplifier-Ioudspeakersystem that creates organlike sounds; and (c) the said exchangeablescore in one of several useful modes.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particularreference to theldrawings:

TI-IE CONSOLE SINGLE SCORE The physical character, inpreferredembodiment, of the electrically operated musical device described hereinthat provides for single scores is apparent from FIG. 1. The console islike a desk top, or may be a desk top, or may rest on top of a desk,table, or sturdy music stand. In FIG. 1 console 5 is shown as supportedby legs 18, two in the drawing being concealed. Since the members ofconductor-bar array 12 are strips of conductive metal in a precisepattern and electrically insulated from each other, console Sis, inwhole or in relevant part, composed of rigid, stable, dielectricmaterial where the conductor-bar array lies inserted.

Console 5 has three general surface areas: In FIG. 1, shown at left isthe controls area; shown at center is the conductorbar area; shown atright is a necessary smooth surface area unoccupied. The controls areaaccommodates switches and their operational members within reach of theperformers left hand, said switches being the following: quick-tunertoggle switches marked C, D, E, F, G, A, and B for the correspondingmusical notes, each switch having the three options,sharp/natural/flat', {tone-formant pushbutton switches with hold featureon or off, marked X, V, O, H, and T for special tones such as of theXylophone, vibrato oboe, horn, and timpani, etc.; halftone pushbuttonswitches for momentary contact with spring-actuated return 6 and 7,marked S for Sharp and F for Flat; and slide operating volume control10. The centrally located conductor-bar area determines the positionbehind which the performer sits or stands so that he may be within reachof evry note on score 13 which a score holder 15, permanently attachedto the console, locates and holds in its correct playing position aftermanual insertion. Correct playing position describes a physicalrelationship that score.

holder 15 maintaihs between conductor-bar array 12 and score 13 so thateach metallic connective piece, such as connective piece 11:, FIG. 1,where it is shown detached form the score 13 for illustrative purposes,lies directly over a pair of conductor bars 12: controlling acorresponding pitch determinator in the interconnected oscillatorsystem. By a router operation, or by other suitable means, such asmetallic etching, the array of conductor bars 12 is let into thedielectric surface of console ;5 so the upper surfaceof all lies flatand smooth. Thus score 13 the performer may exchange rapidly again andagain without damage. Through the under side of console 5 run theconnective wires from both the conductorbar array and the switches ofthe controls area.

The conductor bars 123, 123, etc., shown in FIG. 3 in practical size fora childrenss instrument, are of a size, spacing, and orientation at thesurface of the console 5, FIG. 1, to correspond to the size and spacingof the staff linesand staff spaces of score 13, as set forth hereinabovezthat is, each pair of conductor bars lies beneath a space or aline of each of the staves of the score 13 when the latter is in playingposition- Preferrably, the conductor bars are composed of an inexpensiveconductive metal, such as copper, and bear gold plating for stableconductivity at their upper surface, that is, at the interface wherethey meet the gold-plated bottom surfaces of metallic connective pieces11. A conductor-bar array of specific dimensions will accommodateexchangeable scores of corresponding dimensions, and no others,creating. in

widespread use of the device a need amongst manufacturers;

for standardization.

The right-hand area of theconsole 5 remains unoccupied so that theperformer may slide the exchangeable scores in and.

out of playing position rapidly and without damage- Shown in FIG. Iattachedto the underside of console. 5 isosciIlator-ampIifier-loudspeaker system :l6that producesthe,v

console 5, FIG. 1, is receptacle 8=for plugg ing in an optionalfoot-operated expression control (not shown) such as. occurs in mostelectric organs: Along side of receptacle 8 is receptacle 17 forplugging in the Director's Override described more fully hereinbelow.

CONSOLE-MULTIPLE S CORE At the front of console 5, FIG. 1,is'receptacle- 22 for plugging in replaceable scores in the alternative,booklike mode depicted in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 and described more'fullyhereinbelow.

LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM The oscillator-ampIifier-loudspeaker system 16,hereinafter.

called the loudspeaker system, as it appears in FIG. 2 in block diagramwith its principal control input, the conductorbar arrayl2, at upperleft, and with its loudspeakeroutput at upper right, relates both to thesingle-score mode of FIGS. 1,

3, 4, and 7 and to the multiple-score mode of FIGS. 5 and 6'. Otherelements in the system are: an audiofrequency oscilla minators of thesystem being modifiable both by the QUICK. TUNERS and the'SI-IARP/FLATCONTROL. By note-head.

pressure and by switch manipulations the-performer modifies theloudspeaker systems tonal output along the control lines suggested bythe simplified connective s of the block diagram of FIG. 2. A directoror teacher, optionally, can modify the tonal output also, along thecontrol lines indicated as interconnecting with the DIRECT ORS OVERRIDEwhich consists of an effectively overriding duplicate of the performerscontrols of pitch and volume. The QUICK TUNERS of the device supplementconventional initial tuning of the gamut, ordinarily in the key of C. Byway of illustrating the function of the QUICK TUNERS and their peculiarvalue to the device, particularly as a means of performancesimplification, FIG. 1 shows in.

playing position a score 13 written in the key of F-major, whichrequires that all B notes be played as flats. Hence, before starting toplay, the performer has switched quick-tuner 3 -or in the case of achild performer, the teacher has done so to the right, i.e., to the iz(flat) position. Now, as the performer plays the piece, he need notresort to halftone button 7 to flat each B when it occurs in the score;by the presetting of switch 3, that is already done. The instrumentsgamut now is option that is t tuned to the key of F-major. As scores inthe higher key signatures appear, the herein described system of quicktuning becomes more important. In fact, scores in such keys as A-flat-major and A-sharp-major cannot be played by ordinary persons evenafter considerable practice through employment of the halftone buttons;the task of flatting or sharping four tones out of seven requires toomuch musicianship. So these complex keys are preset in the QUICK TUNERS.Use of the halftone buttons 6 and 7 thus is reserved for accidentalsonly, which means they are employed but rarely in the averagecomposition. In FIG. 2 the halftone button switches of FIG. I bear theblock designation SHARP/FLAT CONTROL. This control ties into the mainstem of the oscillator, adding-a halftone or subtracting a halftone fromany note sounded; it raises or lowers the tuning of the whole gamut.

EXCHANGEABLE SINGLE SCORE The principal novel elements of thisinvention, the depressable note heads in an exchangeable score mechanismare illustrated in the case of single scores in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 7principally, and are illustrated in the case of multiple scores inbooklike form in FIGS. 5 and 6 principally. In essentials the differencebetween the forms is slight, and identical numbers in the severaldrawings indicate essentially similar parts, with the associatedlower-case letters marking slight variations described hereinafter. Inthe case of the single-score mode, FIGS. 3 and 4 depict a scoremechanism easily made by smallscale methods; whereas FIG. 7 depicts ascore requiring considerable tool expense and hence mass production.Score 13 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as comprising a topmost layer 130,composed of whitesface cardboard or the like; a nether layer 130,composed of similar material with its under surface prepared so as to behighly dielectric; and an in between score membrane 13b, composed ofthin, flexible material such as sheet rubber. The score sheet 13a bearsupon its upper surface the score markings, note stems, note flags, andother similar matter associated with conventional sheet music Insmall-scale manufacture, the note heads l4e, etc., of FIG. 3, and thenote heads 14x and 141, of FIG. 4, are cut out of the score-sheetmaterial, reduced slightly in size, and set aside. Score backing 130 isthen suitabIy prepared by the cutting out of holes corresponding to thenote-head cutouts of 13a, only larger in both lateral dimensions 30 asto produce the apertures 19a, 19x, etc. Score membrane 13b now iscemented to the top of 130. Next, the top of score membrane 13b isprepared with cement, care being exercised to get no cement over theapertures 19a, etc. Then score sheet 130 is laid on, and the cementallowed to harden. Thereafter, small amounts of cement are applied tothe bottoms of the cutout note heads, and these are inserted where theybelong in the score sheet. When this cementing hardens, thethree-layered score mechanism, now with its note heads attacheddepressably, is turned over, and the metallic connective pieces 11a,11x, 112, etc. are cemented to the score membrane in each place wherethe membrane appears through the score-backing apertures. Thus, inpreferred embodiment, are made the depressable note heads of thisinvention, the connective pieces 11a, etc. acting as the moveablemembers of momentary-action pushbutton switches when score 13 is inplaying position upon console 5, each such moveable member standingready to connect across two appropriate stationary switch members in theconductor-bar array 12 to make its score position sound forth.

In mass production, the score 13 can be'made more easily, as illustratedin FIG. 7. Here, the score 13 and the score sheet 13a are identical;only one layer is required, the top layer. Cardboard is, as above, asuitable material, with its under side prepared so as to be highlydielectric. Out of 13a the note heads are cut, and the pieces discarded.Then, for each size and shape of note-head aperture is prepared a notehead Mr, composed of flexible material such as molded rubber. To thebottom of each such note head is molded in, or later cemented, metallicconnective piece llr. Then the flexible note heads are cemented intoplace in the score sheet, this version of the replaceable score nowoperating like the version made by small-scale methods describedhereinabove. What makes the embodiment first described here seempreferrable is the tool costs involved in the second version for makingthe flexible note heads of rubber in molds. Only large-scale productionin tens of thousands could pay out such molds. By showing two methods ofattaining depressability in the note heads, it is not intended that theherein claimed inventive idea should be limited to these embodiments;rather, it is intended that these embodiments should be examples of theconception of depressable note heads acting as momentary-actionpushbutton switches in an exchangeable score mechanism. Moreover, theinventive idea herein expressed is intended to include note-headpushbuttons that, optionally, would sound musical chords from a staffposition of the chords leading tone or elsewhere on the score.Concerning the feel" of the device to the performer: the distance oftravel between the bottom of connective piece 11 and the top ofconductor bar 12, which may be varied by making 11 either thicker orthinner, determines the touch of the device-whether light or heavy".Similarly, the quantity, quality, and location of rubber associated withconnective piece 11 determines touch as to softness or hardness. Alittle sponge rubber, not illustrated, back of connective piece 11, notonly softens touch, but minimizes clicking.

EXCHANGEABLE MULTIPLE SCORE By the expedient of transferring theconductor-bar array 12 from the upper surface of console 5 to aconductor-bar sheet 13d of FIGS. 5 and 6, the exchangeable scores,alternatively, may occur in books of scores that comprise severalcompositions or the several pages of a single composition. To facilitatethis mode of the present invention, which is not the preferred modebecause of higher cost factors, it is not needful to employ a consoledifferent from FIG. I, but only to ignore the conductor-bar array 12embedded in the console surface and to use this space to accommodate thescore book of FIG. 5, employing console receptacle 22 to accommodatebook plug 23.

Parts of the exchangeable score 13 are the score sheet 13a, the scoremembrane 13b, the score backing 13c, all similar to the single score,and now is added conductor-bar sheet 13d that bears upon its uppersurface in the technology of flexible printed circuitry, metallicconductor bars 12, with upper surfaces laid bare and preferrably goldplated, beneath the several apertures of the score backing in suchmanner as to receive the corresponding conductive pieces 11 from above.Distal ends of the bars 12 connect through flexible wiring to the bookplug 23 that the performer inserts into receptacle 22, FIG. I, forconnection to the loudspeaker system. Several book pages per book may beaccommodated to the system as shown, and books may be exchanged throughthe plug-receptacle arrangement. The depressable note heads of thescore, in the case of the multiple-score book, are formed and operate asin the case of the single score, the connective piece 11y, FIG. 6, underfingertip pressure 20, proceeding downward to connect electricallyacross a pair of conductor bars 12y through aperture 19y in scorebacking 13c.

ALTERNATIVE MODES The score 13 occurs in an alternative mode,hereinafter claimed as of inventive merit, wherein the musical scoremarkings upon the upper surface of score sheet are not only printed, butare also, or alternatively, embossed or engraved upon that surface assuggested in FIG. 4 by marking 21 and in FIG. 6 by engraving 24, thepurpose of this modality being to provide in musical notations atactility sufficiently different from adjacent surfaces to be readableby touch as well as sight, or even by touch alone, to aid performerswith little or no vision. correspondingly, the depressable note heads14, at their upper surface, occur in tactility to inform the blind, ex-

amples being given in the raised note head 141. of FIG. 4 and theroughened note head 14y of FIG. 6, also the raised, rubber note head ofFIG. 7.

Toproduce a suitable musical efiect, fingertip pressure seriatim by theperformer upon the depressable note heads of this inventions replaceablescore must, of course, occur in correct musical tempo. Each note must beheld so long. To simplify this task of the performer, this inventionoffers the depressable note heads in two simple codes of shapes todenote musical time values. One code, particularly adapted for children,is illustrated in the first measures of score 13, FIGS. 1, 3, and 5,wherein. the varying lengths of the note heads, in values of a quarternote and above, occur in a range of standard length: corresponding tothe length of time the.

child is to" keep the note depressed. An eighth-note in this code is atriangularhalf of a quarter-note, as shown, thinner notes lengthwisebeing impractical. A second code, particularly adapted for the blind, isillustrated in the last three measures of score 13, FIG. I, wherein eachmusical time value occurs in a specialshape, not elongated, but apparentin a trice to sensitive finger tips when augmented by a surfacetactility different from adjacent surfaces as described hereinabove. Anygiven score code of this sort, to be of value, must, of course, belearned. The particular shapes depicted in FIG. 1 are intended to beillustrative only of the inventive idea,

hereinafter claimed, of having the said depressable note heads in codedshapes to express time values, no especial merit being claimed for theparticular shapes illustrated, these having been chosen because easilydrawn. Differences of tactility, that is, surface texture, incombination with fewer different shapes, may constitute a betterembodiment, and the illustrations and claims are intended to cover thesepossibilities.

The musical scores depicted in FIGS. 1, 3, and are illustrative ofscores suitable to production of musical sounds and musical renditionsthat involve variations in pitch. Nothing,

however, need be altered in the inventive mechanisms herein describedand claimed to produce drum music or other timpani sounds, in theirvariety, except employment of a suitable oscillator, ,FIG. 2, and itsengagement by the performer through console management of thetone-formant switches. The tone-formant pushbutton T, FIG. 1, bringsinto a play a Timpani option so that the performer may render, then, atimpani score, mutatis mutandis, instead of a tonal one.

Having thus described my invention in its preferred embodiment andalternatives,

lclaim: I

1. An electrically operated musical'device that provides a keyboard inthe form of an exchangeable musical score with depressable note heads,said note heads being the effective heads of momentary-contactelectrical pushbutton switches adapted to fingertip pressure thatcontrol the utterances of an interconnectedoscillator-amplfiier-loudspeaker system through circuitry wherewith asound for each musical staff position gains expression when theperformer touches a note head in that score position.

2. The electrically operated musical device of claim 1 in combinationwith a sharp/flat control that provides handoperated switching for theperformer that employs and disemploys pitch determinators within thesaid oscillator to raise by a half tone, and to lower by a-half tone,the pitch of any musi cal sound brought to utterance by the performerstouch upon a note head. i

3. The electrically operated musical device of claim 1 in combinationwith a quick-operating musical-key changer that provides an integratedarray of halftone-controlling electronic elements interconnected with acorresponding array of handoperated electrical switches whose optionschange in a trice that tuning of said oscillators gamut from one musicalkey to another through circuitry wherewith each one of said switchesprovides the tones of said oscillator with a sharp option, a flatoption, and a natural option through interconnected pitch determinatorsthat said switches employ and disemploy.

4. The electrically operated musical device of claim 1 in thecombination with a variable volume control for performer I manipulationthat so interconnects with the saidamplifierloudspeader arrangementsvolume -determinators as to control the musical expression of anysound-brought to utterance by the performers touch upon anote head.

5. The electrically operated musicaldevice of claim I in combinationwith a timbre control that provides handoperated switching for theperformer to employ. and disemploy tone formants in the said osicllatorthat alter the wave form of oscillator output in options to produceutterances imitative of musical-instrument sounds, percussive sounds,and other sounds brought to utterance by the performer's touch upon anote head.

6. The electrically operated musical device of claim 1 structured in acombination of the said exchangeable score and a console that provides adesklike supporting surface with a score holder for said exchangeablescore, anarray of conductor'barssubjacent to said score when within saidscore holder, and a switch space containing switch levers forcontrolling orv ganlike tone, pitch, and volume options, said conductorbars being interconnected with said oscillator by pairs in a circuitarrangement where contact between pair members bringson a musical-toneutterance, said array of conductor bars lying subjacent to saidexchangeablescore within its holder so that each pair of conductor bars(by being suitably embedded ,in,

the upper surface of said console) controls a tonal utterance in pitchcorresponding to the score position of each said depressable note headthat lies immediately above.

7. The electrically operated musical device of claim I in combinationwitha directors override system that provides a disconnectablyconnectable sharp/flat control for the said oscillator-amplifier foroperation remotely by one other than lator-amplifier for operationremotely by one other than the' performer to add and to subtract volumeto and from any musical sound brought to utterance by theperformerstouch upon a note head.

9. A musical score mechanism which provides. a musical score ofsemirigid material whose face bears the staves and the notes of musicalnotation, with heads of the notes discrete from said score sheet butkept snugly, yet flexibly, attached to said score so as to bedepressable, and with a metallic connective piece attached subjacent toeach such note head.

10. The musical score of claim 9 with staves, musical symbols, andnote-head surfaces made in a tactility enough different from nearbysurfaces to inform the blind.

11. The musical score of claim 9 with said note heads formed in theshape of rectangles whose lateral dimension occurs in graduated standardlengths so asi'to constitute a reada-- ble code for telling theperformer eachnotes musical time value according to a system wherelonger note heads mean longer time values.

12. The musical score of claim 9 with said note heads so formed inshapes apparent at once to sight as constitute an immediately readablecode for telling the performer musical time values.

13. The musical score of claim 9 with said note heads so formed inshapes apparent in a trice to touch as to constitute an immediatelyreadable code for telling the blind performer musical time values.

14. The musical score of claim 9 in a multiple arrangement that providesin a booklike form several such scores as pages,

with a subjacent array of conductor bars. beneath said metallicconnective pieces, individual bars of said array being formed in pairsof conductor bars that lie directly beneath said metallic connectivepieces so as to interconnect therewith as the related members ofmomentary-contact electrical switches, said connectable disconnectablyto a musical device suitably made for its accommodation in such manneras to make the said

1. An electrically operated musical device that provides a keyboard inthe form of an exchangeable musical score with depressable note heads,said note heads being the effective heads of momentary-contactelectrical pushbutton switches adapted to fingertip pressure thatcontrol the utterances of an interconnectedoscillator-amplfiier-loudspeaker system through circuitry wherewith asound for each musical staff position gains expression when theperformer touches a note head in that score position.
 2. Theelectrically operated musical device of claim 1 in combination with asharp/flat control that provides hand-operated switching for theperformer that employs and disemploys pitch determinators within thesaid oscillator to raise by a half tone, and to lower by a half tone,the pitch of any musical sound brought to utterance by the performer''stouch upon a note head.
 3. The electrically operated musical device ofclaim 1 in combination with a quick-operating musical-key changer thatprovides an integrated array of halftone-controlling electronic elementsinterconnected with a corresponding array of hand-operated electricalswitches whose options change in a trice that tuning of saidoscillator''s gamut from one musical key to another through circuitrywherewith each one of said switches provides the tones of saidoscillator with a sharp option, a flat option, and a natural optionthrough interconnected pitch determinators that said switches employ anddisemploy.
 4. The electrically operated musical device of claim 1 in thecombination with a variable volume control for performer manipulationthat so interconnects with the said amplifier-loudspeader arrangement''svolume determinators as to control the musical expression of any soundbrought to utterance by the performer''s touch upon a note head.
 5. Theelectrically operated musical device of claim 1 in combination with atimbre control that provides hand-operated switching for the performerto employ and disemploy tone formants in the said osicllator that alterthe wave form of oscillator output in options to produce utterancesimitative of musical-instrument sounds, percussive sounds, and othersounds brought to utterance by the performer''s touch upon a note head.6. The electrically operated musical device of claim 1 structured in acombination of the said exchangeable score and a console that provides adEsklike supporting surface with a score holder for said exchangeablescore, an array of conductor bars subjacent to said score when withinsaid score holder, and a switch space containing switch levers forcontrolling organlike tone, pitch, and volume options, said conductorbars being interconnected with said oscillator by pairs in a circuitarrangement where contact between pair members brings on a musical-toneutterance, said array of conductor bars lying subjacent to saidexchangeable score within its holder so that each pair of conductor bars(by being suitably embedded in the upper surface of said console)controls a tonal utterance in pitch corresponding to the score positionof each said depressable note head that lies immediately above.
 7. Theelectrically operated musical device of claim 1 in combination with adirector''s override system that provides a disconnectably connectablesharp/flat control for the said oscillator-amplifier for operationremotely by one other than the performer to add and to subtract pitch toand from any musical sound brought to utterance by the performer''stouch upon a note head.
 8. The electrically operated musical device ofclaim 1 in combination with a director''s override system that providesa disconnectably connectable volume control for the saidoscillator-amplifier for operation remotely by one other than theperformer to add and to subtract volume to and from any musical soundbrought to utterance by the performer''s touch upon a note head.
 9. Amusical score mechanism which provides a musical score of semirigidmaterial whose face bears the staves and the notes of musical notation,with heads of the notes discrete from said score sheet but kept snugly,yet flexibly, attached to said score so as to be depressable, and with ametallic connective piece attached subjacent to each such note head. 10.The musical score of claim 9 with staves, musical symbols, and note-headsurfaces made in a tactility enough different from nearby surfaces toinform the blind.
 11. The musical score of claim 9 with said note headsformed in the shape of rectangles whose lateral dimension occurs ingraduated standard lengths so as to constitute a readable code fortelling the performer each note''s musical time value according to asystem where longer note heads mean longer time values.
 12. The musicalscore of claim 9 with said note heads so formed in shapes apparent atonce to sight as constitute an immediately readable code for telling theperformer musical time values.
 13. The musical score of claim 9 withsaid note heads so formed in shapes apparent in a trice to touch as toconstitute an immediately readable code for telling the blind performermusical time values.
 14. The musical score of claim 9 in a multiplearrangement that provides in a booklike form several such scores aspages, with a subjacent array of conductor bars beneath said metallicconnective pieces, individual bars of said array being formed in pairsof conductor bars that lie directly beneath said metallic connectivepieces so as to interconnect therewith as the related members ofmomentary-contact electrical switches, said array being contained in alayer of dielectric material cemented to the nether side of said musicalscore, said array being intracircuited with corresponding members withinthe booklike pages then terminaled at its distal end so as to beconnectable disconnectably to a musical device suitably made for itsaccommodation in such manner as to make the said musical score inbooklike form the keyboard of the said device, its means of beingbrought to utterance.